On this blog, I primarily review first and business class experiences. However, that’s not to say that I always fly in a premium cabin. A reader recently asked me how often I actually end up flying in economy, so I want to address that in this post…
In this post:
I don’t mind flying economy, but prefer to avoid it
Over the past two decades, I’ve flown millions of miles. Back when I was a teenager and first got into miles and points, a vast majority of my travel was in economy, and I was fine with that. For that matter, I was happy to take short redeye flights in economy. Heck, sometimes I even took them two nights in a row.
However, as I’ve gotten older, my approach to this has changed:
- I don’t have the stamina I once had when it comes to flying, and I get exhausted a bit more easily, so I value comfort more than I used to
- Thanks to inflight Wi-Fi, the reality is that I can basically be just as productive in the air as on the ground, but it’s much more comfortable to work from a first or business class seat, where you don’t have to contort your body to be able to use a laptop
- As I’ve gotten older, my willingness to pay for a better experience has also increased, and I’m in a better financial situation now than I was as a teenager
I have absolutely no issues flying economy on a short or medium haul flight. That being said, I try to avoid economy on longer flights, and for that matter, I also try to avoid redeye flights unless I’m in a flat bed, since they are otherwise just too unpleasant.
There are limits to what I’ll pay for first or business class
While I value flying in premium cabins, there are also limits to what I’m willing to pay. While we nowadays see a lot more reasonably priced premium fares than in the past, I’d never book one of those “full fare” long haul business class tickets, which can cost $10,000 or more. That’s just too much money, and even if I could afford it, I wouldn’t feel good about spending money that way. I’d rather “suffer” through economy, and do something with that money on the ground.
I’ve written in the past about the price at which I consider first class to be worth it. For example, on domestic flights, I’m typically willing to pay roughly an extra $50 per hour over economy for first class, since that’s what I value the incremental comfort at, give or take. With that in mind, let me share my general approach to booking premium cabin travel.
For long haul travel, I almost always redeem miles for first and business class travel at the saver rate. I typically have quite a bit of flexibility with my travel, so if I can get a first or business class seat at a reasonable mileage rate, why wouldn’t I fly that way?
Sometimes I’ll also waitlist an upgrade (like with American systemwide upgrades), but I’ll only do it if I’m very confident that the upgrade will clear. Or at least if I’m not sure if it’ll clear, I make sure it’s a ticket that’s flexible, so I can cancel at the last minute, and rebook on another flight as an award ticket.
For short haul travel, I take more of a mixed approach, and I usually have a few different strategies I use to secure a first class seat:
- I generally have some airline elite status, so if I think there’s a decent chance of getting a complimentary upgrade, I’ll just book economy and hope for an upgrade; however, that’s really not something I rely on much nowadays, given how difficult upgrades have become
- If I don’t think the odds of an upgrade are great, I’ll look if there’s any decent first class fare for cash, and I’m happy to fly just about any airline to do that
- Nowadays airlines also frequently offer reasonably priced cash upgrades, so I often take advantage of those cash upgrade offers; for example, American constantly sells these, and I find it to be worthwhile for situations where I don’t think an upgrade would clear
- I sometimes even find it to be worthwhile to outright redeem miles for first class; for example, American AAdvantage often has good first class redemption rates
The situations where I usually fly economy
While I generally do what I can to fly in a premium cabin, there are some situations where I don’t even bother trying, so let me share those:
- Within Europe, I’m happy to fly any point-to-point flight on an ultra low cost carrier with a good schedule, since most of these flights are short, and it’s not like intra-Europe business class is much to get excited about
- On short domestic flights within the United States, I really don’t care where I sit; my most frequent route is between Miami and Tampa, so I usually just book the flight that’s most convenient in economy, with no consideration for upgrade odds
- When we travel with one or both of our kids, I largely prefer economy, since it’s much easier to be closer to a toddler in economy, rather than in first class (where there’s more distance between seats)
I just did some rough math about my travel patterns over the past couple of years. Roughly 20% of the segments I’ve flown over that period were in economy. That being said, in terms of distance flown, it only represents 3% of my total travel distance (since a majority of my economy segments were on flights of under 500 miles).
Bottom line
While I primarily cover premium cabin travel on the blog, that doesn’t mean I never fly economy. I actually fly it quite frequently, both on flights within the United States, as well as within Europe.
The reality is that I do value the comfort of premium cabin travel immensely. However, there are limits to what I’m willing to pay for it. Fortunately miles & points allow me to travel in premium cabins on most long haul flights, which I’m very grateful for. But even within the United States, I’ll gladly pay a reasonable premium for first class.
What’s your approach to flying in economy vs. in premium cabins?
This was a great post. I wrote a comment in an earlier post commenting that the most important part of the post you wrote is that you flew in coach. I think I speak for many of us, when I say, that we were under the impression that you never/almost never fly coach. I understand that mileage-wise it is a small portion of the miles but in number of flights it is fairly high.
...
This was a great post. I wrote a comment in an earlier post commenting that the most important part of the post you wrote is that you flew in coach. I think I speak for many of us, when I say, that we were under the impression that you never/almost never fly coach. I understand that mileage-wise it is a small portion of the miles but in number of flights it is fairly high.
Personally, I would love to read more about flying coach experience and how you overcome the challenges of flying coach, especially with no elite status.
Thank you for the great articles/posts.
I read your $50 per hour rule a while back and started applying that to my travels.
Anything under 3 hours I can deal with economy. Over that I am booking a premium class as long as it's not outrageously expensive.
Let me start off by saying that both my wife and I are 65+. I'm all-but-retired, my wife still works and still travels for work occasionally. So our needs (and tolerance) for flying is obviously different for us than it was when -- as Ben noted -- we could endure red-eyes and long-haul in economy. Finally, it's worth noting I love to fly; my wife, not so much. That said...
Neither of us can deal...
Let me start off by saying that both my wife and I are 65+. I'm all-but-retired, my wife still works and still travels for work occasionally. So our needs (and tolerance) for flying is obviously different for us than it was when -- as Ben noted -- we could endure red-eyes and long-haul in economy. Finally, it's worth noting I love to fly; my wife, not so much. That said...
Neither of us can deal with overnight flights *unless* we are flying from the U.S. to Europe or Asia, and only then if we have lie-flat seats in Business. Those are *always* award tickets. Within North America, however, flying Economy is perfectly fine. Cash or points depends upon the number of points needed, but we will typically pay for our domestic Economy flights and save our points for the aforementioned trips to Europe or Asia. Additionally, given our status with the airline(s) means we are instantly upgraded to "extra legroom" or Exit Row seats in Premium Economy (or whatever the airline calls their version of PE). On top of that, I often get upgraded to First just from the waitlist (over 30 percent of the time so far in 2026).
Intra-European business class is a joke and definitely not worth it, so the only time we'll fly Business class within Europe is if there's a connecting flight from/to the U.S. as part of our original flight (JFK-CDG, connecting to CDG-FCO, for example, or OPO-LHR-SFO). Depending upon the airline and the economics, we might pay cash or transfer points. This is also true for domestic flights, keeping in mind that the points we acquire on domestic travel is one way we build up our points reserves (with the airline and/or transferable bank cards), as well as our status.
Honestly, the reasons why you don't like flying economy anymore give me the idea that you've become a bit of a diva, to be honest. Now that you're getting older? Mate, you're a young father who is raising a toddler. If you're considering yourself old, then please change my nickname to Methuselah.
You're spot on with European business class though. I think it's one of the main reasons why Ryanair and Wizzair thrive: legacy...
Honestly, the reasons why you don't like flying economy anymore give me the idea that you've become a bit of a diva, to be honest. Now that you're getting older? Mate, you're a young father who is raising a toddler. If you're considering yourself old, then please change my nickname to Methuselah.
You're spot on with European business class though. I think it's one of the main reasons why Ryanair and Wizzair thrive: legacy carriers do literally nothing to distinguish themselves, except selling people the idea of flying business class while delivering economy. It's a bit like the emperor's new clothes, but with aircraft.
Furthermore, I must add that I haven't seen a complimentary upgrade based on status since the pandemic started, despite having a 'high status' across all three major alliances. I guess they disappeared completely. Also, reasonably priced upgrades seem to be non-existent anymore. One example: I recently flew Air China and was booked in economy for a long haul flight (company policy). The gate agent announced that upgrades to premium classes were available. Turns out they wanted €2000 (or about $2200) for the upgrade to business - for just one leg: ARN-PEK. Just that leg upgraded plus the economy class ticket add up to about the same as what the business class ticket would have cost had I booked it in advance, but then I would have had business class on the whole trip. It just doesn't make sense. Who buys that?
Older ≠ old. I'm in my early 30's (I think Ben is similar). I'm not old by any usual means, but I'm older than I've ever been and of course my body isn't the same as it's been when I was in my early 20's. At the same time, my budget is higher than it was back then, so altogether, I also splurge more than I used to.
If you think your 30+ body isn't same as 20+, wait till you cross 40. You have right to your opinion etc etc, but unless you are a blue collar worker, what the heck did you do that your early 30s body can't fly economy.
I don't think anyone has said that they 'can't' fly economy. 'Can't' and 'won't' are different things, and there's a lot of wriggle room in 'economy or not economy' when what is said (or meant) is 'I'll fly in a premium cabin when I'm able to and it's worth the extra cost (in cash or points)', or there's no alternative.
I 'happily' took TPAC flights in economy when I was considerably older than Ben is...
I don't think anyone has said that they 'can't' fly economy. 'Can't' and 'won't' are different things, and there's a lot of wriggle room in 'economy or not economy' when what is said (or meant) is 'I'll fly in a premium cabin when I'm able to and it's worth the extra cost (in cash or points)', or there's no alternative.
I 'happily' took TPAC flights in economy when I was considerably older than Ben is now, and tended to worry more about a flexible fare than a more premium cabin, hoping for a points upgrade (successfully about half the time). I survived those, and could again, even now I'm in my dotage, but have chosen not to, and can afford that. (I'm happy though, to buy restrictive tickets and swallow any change fees if I need to. Haven't so far.) Domestically, I try to fly business, just not at Qantas' insane normal cash fares. 'Trying to' doesn't mean I won't fly economy. I will, and I do. YMMV.
This is where extra legroom economy seating enters the conversation. Especially when flying with the family.
Up to 3 or 4 hours economy exit row is fine for me. Beyond that I value business class up to $3k. That's the limit of the value I place on it so if it's more than that I wait till I find something at that price or I book one way in PE to stay under the limit.
All the time because I'm cheap and don't want to pay for business class.
Domestic first class before The War was reasonable. You used to see flights transcontinental (albeit with a connection sometimes) for 500-700, now I struggle to fine it less than 900 bucks one way. Thanks Obama.
“I don’t mind flying economy but I’d rather not suffer “
I’m a grown ass man. I fly economy for 18 hours. I’d even do standing room only with the handle bar outside the lavatory if given the option.
I'm a grown ass man and I don't fly economy unless it's the only class of service on the aircraft. I worked for 30 years so I could afford comfort when I retire, so 18 hours in economy class sounds like pointless self-flagellation to me.
I’m First Class
do you want a sticker
Great advice. Full disclosure, I am a small human that generally is fine with premium economy space. ( probably one of the only advantages of being around 5 something) But long haul this goes may also go out the window. Plush is nice but costing a fortune is not.
On the ‘upgrades’ topic, gotta say, unless it’s confirmed in-advance, like RUCs or GUCs, or Move to Mint, at booking, I don’t find Waitlists, like SWUs or PlusPoints, reliable. As our pal, Gene, says: Want First, Buy First (WFBF). But, that can be pricy…
I was glad to see your comment about factoring in the cost per hour for flying premium, as that is something I place a great weight on when making a decision between business or first on international flights. I use a threshold of $250 Canadian per hour as the max I’ll pay for first versus business on Etihad, Emirates or ANA
I have no problem flying Ryanair. Why would I want to connect when they can provide cheap n/s flights? I have no choice but to fly Y on NZ domestic or trans-Tasman flights. Thst's fine. I'm unwilling to pay the high extra to go from Y to F within Australia. My US domestic-only itineraries are F from miles. I've yet to see an eventual TATL or TPAC J fare that I hesitated paying.
Give...
I have no problem flying Ryanair. Why would I want to connect when they can provide cheap n/s flights? I have no choice but to fly Y on NZ domestic or trans-Tasman flights. Thst's fine. I'm unwilling to pay the high extra to go from Y to F within Australia. My US domestic-only itineraries are F from miles. I've yet to see an eventual TATL or TPAC J fare that I hesitated paying.
Give me truth serum and I'd likely say flying J over PE isn't worth what I pay. But, I still do it.
How often are you able to write off these flights as business expenses though?
You can safely assume that 98 to 100 percent of Ben's travel costs are legitimate business expenses.
Ah, so that's the real game being played here. Touché.
Changes the decision calculus a little bit if paying for business class simultaneously decreases your taxable income ;)
I got i to points game thanks your articles. Been about 15 years now! And i agree with the economy and comfort level. Long trips i need BC. Short trips economy all the way.
I do have one question, its generally BC or Economy that you can find “favorable” points redemption, with how common PE is now, why is it so hard to find on most major point programs?.
Premium Economy is generally the most profitable part of the plane for airlines, so unsurprising that they're reluctant to let these seats go for points.
PE is the most profitable, ergo worst value for money.
Everyone should avoid this cabin.
There are so many versions of economy tho.
I'll happily pay €15 for a Ryanair exit row vs flying BA in 30" business class for 5x the money.
I'll fly E+/MCE/C+ no problem but won't sit in crappy 31" Y.